Santander UK PLC SWIFT/BIC code

SWIFT/BIC code of Santander UK PLC

The 8-character code ANILJESH and the 11-character code ANILJESHXXX refer to the same bank: Santander UK PLC. The code does one job: it makes sure that an international payment ends up at the right bank. It comes up mainly when dealing with transfers between countries or a currency.

On this page we explain how the code means, when it matters and what else a transfer to or from Santander UK PLC requires. A SWIFT code identifies a bank or branch, never a specific account; the IBAN or account number does that.

Santander UK PLC: head office code versus branch codes

Our database contains 2 SWIFT/BIC codes for Santander UK PLC, spread over 1 cities. Besides the head office code ANILJESHXXX, there are codes for individual branches and departments.

Usually there is no need to look up a branch: transfers sent to ANILJESHXXX reach Santander UK PLC correctly. Only use a branch code when your contact gives you that exact code, for example on an invoice or in their bank details.

The best way is to take the code directly from the account holder’s invoice. Codes for branches are more prone to be retired than ANILJESHXXX.

Paying into Santander UK PLC in GBP

Jersey uses the British Pound, with the currency code GBP. When you pay another currency gets converted somewhere along the way – by your bank, by Santander UK PLC or by a bank in between. Each conversion eats into something.

Where the conversion happens has an effect on the final amount. Often you pay less to send GBP straight away via a transfer service with a good rate, so that the receiving bank does not need to convert again.

The GBP rate changes constantly. If you pay regularly, a slightly better rate add up over a year.

Before you send: check the Santander UK PLC code

The most reliable source for the BIC is the bank details provided by the recipient – an invoice, a statement or a screenshot from online banking. If the code you have does not match ANILJESH or ANILJESHXXX, do not guess – contact the recipient or Santander UK PLC.

If the code is wrong, the transfer may be delayed, bounce back or cost extra, and tracing it can take weeks. A mistake in the account number can be more serious, so check that just as carefully.

Most online banking apps validate the structure of IBANs and some suggest the matching BIC – that confirms the format, not the owner. Where available, a payee name check before sending adds an extra layer of safety. A small test payment can be a sensible step for a large first payment despite the extra fee.

How up to date is this code?

We collect SWIFT/BIC codes from public sources and check our list from time to time. It is possible that a code on this page is no longer current after a merger or reorganisation. Counts and locations are from our own dataset and may differ from what Santander UK PLC publishes.

Treat the information here as a helpful check and rely on the recipient or Santander UK PLC for the final confirmation. GoldexPay is a comparison site for money transfers and not affiliated with Santander UK PLC. Should you notice something that is out of date, we welcome a message via the contact page.

Why Santander UK PLC has an 8- and an 11-character code

The layout of every SWIFT code never changes: four characters for the institution, two for the country and two for the location, sometimes followed by a branch code. That gives you ANILJESH.

XXX at the end of ANILJESHXXX does not stand for a placeholder or an error: it indicates the head office of Santander UK PLC. Some banking apps insist on 11 characters, in which case you can add XXX after ANILJESH.

Type the code as one block, in upper case and without separators. A single character may route the money to another bank.

Tracking a transfer to or from Santander UK PLC

A SWIFT payment usually needs one to a few business days, depending on the currency, the route and the banks involved. Payments made after the cut-off time or on a weekend or public holiday usually start the next business day. Sometimes a bank asks what the payment is for.

If a transfer is late, contact your bank about the tracking status and the transaction reference. Save the payment confirmation – you will need it for any trace request.

A missing payment is investigated by the sending bank. Request from the sender the payment receipt.

Changed bank details? Be careful

Be wary if a contact suddenly asks you to send money to a different account. The fact that ANILJESH exists is no guarantee that the account is genuine; criminals use the codes of real banks too.

Verify new payment details through a separate channel like a call to a number from an earlier contract. Be suspicious of urgent requests, unusual wording or a sender address that is slightly off. If a payment has already gone to a fraudster, call your bank right away – speed improves the chance of getting it back.

Scams also work the other way. Someone sends more than agreed and wants you to return the extra to a new account. Wait until the money is actually in your account – ask Santander UK PLC if something looks wrong.

Incoming international payments to Santander UK PLC

When you are waiting for a payment from another country, give the sender a complete set of details. Give them your name as the bank knows it, the IBAN or account number, the BIC ANILJESHXXX and your address, which some banks require.

It helps to add the bank name and its city too, since some forms ask for it. Check the details before you share them.

An incoming payment will not always land for the full amount. Intermediary banks may deduct a fee and your own bank may charge for processing, and if the money is converted, a markup on the rate applies. Make clear with the sender who pays which costs.

What a transfer from Santander UK PLC abroad really costs

A bank transfer abroad can cost more than the fee suggests. On top of a fixed fee, banks in between may take a cut, and if currencies are converted, the bank often uses a rate below the real market rate.

Most of the cost usually sits in the exchange rate: many banks convert using an exchange rate with a margin built in. An easy check: put the rate you get against the mid-market rate and work out the difference on your amount.

For a lot of currency pairs, a transfer service turns out to be less expensive than a traditional bank transfer – mostly thanks to the rate. GoldexPay compares the amount that arrives across providers, which makes the cheapest option easy to spot. Using a transfer service does not mean closing your account at Santander UK PLC: you simply pay the service from your account.